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I want those red sneakers. Would love to know what brand they are.

Raisin buns! So hard to find these. DH is always on the lookout. If you try them, please let us know what you think!

Interesting. Ours were a combination of voucher and pre-pay. Maybe our missed excursions were covered by our voucher. I can’t complain. I got some lovely things on the ship that I never would’ve bought otherwise!

That’s what we did with the British pounds we had left from our cruise in the UK.

Sometimes Viking will substitute another port. For example, last fall we missed the Shetlands (waaah!) and were given a day in Stavanger, Norway, instead. On the same cruise we also missed Ullapool and were given … an extra sea day. One note about refunds for those optional excursions: they’re given in the form of onboard credit, which means you have to use them before the end of the cruise. That’s tough when your refunded excursion comes near the end of your cruise. We already had the Silver Spirits package and had pre-paid gratuities; the spa was booked up. So we ended up buying more stuff in the onboard shops than we normally would have. And keep in mind that the shops close for business a day or so before the end of the cruise.

We asked! Twice! They said “What pistachio buns?” And looked at us like we’d grown a third eye. Obviously we don’t have the Clayton je ne sais quoi.

You got the pistachio buns!! So happy for you! And in awe of your clout with Viking. Can we bring you on our next cruise?

Heh … when I first saw this, I thought, “Wow, where did Mike get that great getup?” 😜

I realize this was asked 5 years ago, but in case it’s still relevant to someone, I advise going with the capsules. You get more ginger than with the candies. Worked beautifully for me when we had choppy seas. Good thing because I found the wrist bands uncomfortable. Forget ginger ale; most of it has only a tiny amount of ginger, if any. I didn’t try green apples, but during our ups and downs Viking put out bowls of them everywhere.

Was this the endangered Red-Beaked Wobbly or the Common Coot? Perhaps a bit early in the day for the former but you never know. 🪶

I think that bourbon pecan brownie would go a long way toward alleviating any disappointment.

That is both incredibly sweet and sad. Poor little thing. Did the guide say how they deal with such situations? Can it ever be a wild bird?

Blue Cross works internationally — at least ours does.

Thanks for the great review. That’s surprising about the World Cafe. We’ve never had an issue with rudeness there. But every cruise has a different feel to it. Sorry you ran into that. Yes, we’re huge fans of the Explorer’s Lounge — easily our favorite spot on the ship!

Looking forward to living vicariously! Here’s hoping they stock pistachio rolls for you.

According to their website: ——— Vaccination: For departures on or before October 31, 2023, Viking will continue to require that all guests be vaccinated against COVID-19. We suggest carrying your physical vaccine records at all times.Viking will not require COVID-19 vaccination for voyages departing on or after November 1, 2023. For added protection, we recommend that guests stay up to date with all relevant vaccines, including COVID-19, in accordance with their healthcare provider. Plese Note: Select countries continue to have COVID-19 related travel requirements. You will receive details via e-mail ahead of your departure. ——— https://www.vikingcruises.com/oceans/why-viking/health-and-safety/health-and-safety-faq.html

I think I’d rather skip the dunk and go straight to the aquavit part.

This sums up our experience beautifully.

Good points. I have often thought this myself. We’re a little younger than the average age we see on Viking cruises, and we definitely skew more informal. I don’t associate jeans or shorts with being too “Carnival” or “Walmart.” (Both terms smell just a teensy bit snobbish to me, frankly.) But I know that many — most — of the people we cruise with have a more extensive cruising background than we do and are used to a certain formality that comes with cruising, which they enjoy. We respect that. Maybe when we’re both retired we’ll see dressing up as more of an enjoyable event. In the meantime, it’s not like Viking is requiring tuxes and evening gowns. As you say, it will be interesting to see what changes the next generation of cruising will bring.

I can relate to this. One thing I appreciate about land tours is the opportunity to eat local food. Would love to see Viking offer more of this, though I understand the complications it would present.

In Britain last fall, many (most) places took Apple Pay. We could just tap our phone or watch. We carried a backup card just in case. And our health insurance cards, which have a number to call when overseas. No driver’s license.

Trying to imagine how much someone would have to pay me to get into one of those things …

On Ocean ships, daytime clothing can be casual. T-shirts, shorts, fine. It’s just in the evening at three of the four restaurants that things get a bit more formal — collared shirts for men, etc. No idea about River ships, but I’ve heard they’re a bit more casual than Ocean.

*Now* I find this out.

He’s marvelous! Love the destination performances.